Miniature rose plant named `Meibrenec`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class is provided which abundantly forms attractive small double pink blossoms. A hanging growth habit is exhibited that renders the plant well suited for growing outdoors in a hanging basket. The plant propagates well from cuttings. The blossoms possess a slight fragrance, and the medium green foliage is semi-glossy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of miniature rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the product of the pollination of the `Meiplarzon` variety(non-patented in the United States) and the `Meitristical` variety(non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollenparent) of the new variety was the `Katharina Zeimet` variety(non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new varietycan be summaried as follows:

    (`Meiplarzon`×`Meitristical`)×`Katharina Zeimet`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of miniature rose plant of the presentinvention posseses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive small double pink blossoms,

(b) exhibits a hanging growth habit,

(c) forms semi-glossy medium green foliage,

(d) propagates well on its own roots, and

(e) is particularly suited for growing as ornamentation in a hangingbasket.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural society. It isparticularly well-suited for use as attractive ornamentation whengrowing outdoors in a hanging pot.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in France hasshown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictlytransmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the `Meibrenec` variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringNovember while growing on their own roots indoors at LeCannet desMaures, Var, France.

FIG. 1--illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2--illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3--illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4--illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5--illustrates a specimen of a flower during the course of opening;

FIG. 6--illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 7--illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 8--illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9--illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10--illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11--illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12--illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13--illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14--illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the top and the under surface being shownat the bottom;

FIG. 15--illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the top and the under surface being shownat the bottom; and

FIG. 16--illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the bottom and the under surface beingshown at the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding colors in more common terms. The description is based ontwo year-old specimens of the new variety which were observed duringNovember while growing on their own roots indoors at LeCannet desMaures, Var, France.

Class: Miniature.

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 20 to 30 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Habit.--Hanging.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Green Group 143B. Adult wood: mediumgreen, Green Group 137B.

Thorns.--Size: small. Quantity: moderately numerous. Color: pinkish.

Leaves:

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped, reddish on young foliage and mediumgreen on mature foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface: light green and bear some small thorns.

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, rather wide and linear.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: lanceolate.Serration: simple and regular. Texture: consistent. General appearance:very dense and semi-glossy. Color (young foliage): upper surface: mediumgreen, Green Group 143A. under surface: light green, Green Group 139C.Color (adult foliage): upper surface: dark green, Green Group 137A.under surface: medium green, Green Group 138B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Commonly approximately 6 to 15 per stem.

Peduncle.--Medium green in coloration, more or less glandular, and thelength is approximately 2.5 to 3.5 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, and greenish in coloration. Undersurface: medium green in coloration and commonly with weak extensions.

Buds.--Shape: ovoid. Length: appoximately 1.5 cm. on average. Size:medium. Color upon opening: upper surface: light Carmine Rose, Red Group52D. under surface: light Carmine Rose, red Group 52D becoming lighteron inside petals.

Flower.--Form: flattened. Diameter: approximately 3 cm. on average.Color (when opening begins): upper surface: light Scarlet Pink, RedGroup 43D with a pearly aspect. under surface: light Carmine Rose, RedGroup 52D. Color (when blooming): upper surface: light Shrimp Pink,Orange-Red Group 33D on the internal petals and Dawn Pink, Red Group 49Aon the external petals. under surface: light Carmine Rose, Red Group 52Dand somewhat lighter on the external petals. Color (at the end ofopening): upper surface: light Shrimp Pink, Orange-Red Group 33D on theinternal petals and Dawn Pink, Red Group 49A on the external petalsevolving to light Carmine Rose, Red Group 52D. under surface: lightCarmine Rose, Red Group 52D, and lighter on the external petals.Fragrance: slight. Petal number: approximately 65 to 81 on average.Petal shape: oval and very narrow near the receptacle. Petal drop: good.Anthers: normal and yellowish in coloration. Stamen number:approximately 25 on average. Filaments: normal. Pistil number:approximately 19 on average. Stigmas: normal and strawlike incoloration. Styles: greenish in coloration. Receptacle: medium green.Lasting quality: long on the plant.

Development:

Vegetation.--Very strong.

Blooming.--Abundant.

Resistance to diseases.--Very good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance attractive small double pink blossoms, (b) exhibits ahanging growth habit, (c) forms semi-glossy medium green foliage, (d)propagates well on its own roots, and (e) is particularly suited forgrowing as ornamentation in a hanging basket;substantially as hereinshown and described.